2015
PROGRAM GUIDELINES
AND
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT
Louisiana Safe Routes to School Program - 13
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1
Introduction 1
Purpose 1
Benefits/Outcomes 1
Funding 2
Program Funding 2
Funding Categories 2
Project Funding 2
Local Projects 2
Regional/Statewide Projects 2
Local Match 3
Reimbursements 3
Inappropriate Use of Funds 3
Project Location 3
Infrastructure Project Location 3
Non-Infrastructure Activity Locations 4
Required Activities 4
Eligible Applicants/Sponsors 5
Eligible Projects 5
Infrastructure Projects 5
Non-Infrastructure Activities 6
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS 7
General 7
Details 7
Applicant/Entity Information 7
Other Considerations for Eligibility 8
Problem Identification 8
Project Cost 8
Certification 8
Scoring Criteria 9
Application Process Timeline 9
Program Contact Information 99
Example Project Cost Estimate 10
Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) 11
DOTD District Offices 13
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Introduction
The 2012 Highway Bill Map-21 continued funding Safe Routes to School (SRTS) as part of the Transportation Alternatives program at 80/20 funding. the Louisiana Department of Transportation has decided to continue funding of the Program through the use of Safety Transfer Funds which are still 100% funded for certain projects.
Purpose
The purposes of the program, as stated in the original legislation, shall be-
1. to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school in a safe manner;
2. to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby enabling children to gain the life skills of walking and biking in a safe manner; and
3. to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
Benefits/Outcomes
Safe Routes to School is a cross cutting program. There are many possible outcomes as a result of successfully implementing projects and activities. These desired outcomes help clarify the broad purposes stated above. They will be used to evaluate potential projects, as well as understand the factors that affect the success of different activities, projects, and programs.
Desired outcomes of the Safe Routes to School Program include:
· Increased bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety
· More children walking and bicycling to and from schools
· Decreased traffic congestion
· Improved air quality
· Improved community safety
· Reduced fuel consumption
· Increased community security
· Enhanced community accessibility
· Increased community involvement
· Improvements to the physical environment that increase the ability to walk and bicycle to and from schools
· Improved partnerships among schools, local municipalities, parents, and other community groups, including non-profit organizations
· Increased interest in bicycle and pedestrian accommodations throughout a community
Funding
Program Funding
The Louisiana SRTS Program provides funding to the program. Louisiana is projected to contribute approximately $2.75 million for 2015 Applicants. The SRTS Program is a reimbursement program for cost incurred. It is not a “cash-up front” program. Costs incurred prior to FHWA project approval are not eligible for reimbursement.
The Louisiana SRTS Program will not fund right-of-way purchases or utility relocations.
Funding Categories
Funds are made available for two different types of projects (infrastructure and non-infrastructure), with not less than 10 percent and not more than 30 percent of available funds required to be spent on non-infrastructure activities.
INFRASTRUCTURE RELATED PROJECTS- planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school
NON-INFRASTRUCTURE-RELATED ACTIVITIES- activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school and encourage increased safety
Project Funding
Approved projects will be funded at a 100% level by the La DOTD. No matching funds are required. Applicants are encouraged, however, to leverage funds available from other sources in order to maximize the efficient use of SRTS funds where possible. The leveraging of funds will not be considered as a factor in evaluating applications, however.
2 TYPES OF PROJECTS
· Local Projects
The maximum funding for any local project cannot exceed $350,000 for infrastructure and $50,000 for noninfrastructure activities for a total maximum of $400,000 per project.
· Regional/Statewide Projects
The maximum funding for a regional or statewide non-infrastructure project is $150,000 per project.
Local Match
Requiring matching funds is not permitted in this program. The Federal share of the cost of a project or activity will be 100%.
Leveraging of funds from other sources to supplement SRTS funds are encouraged, however, but will not be used to unfairly disadvantage low-income communities when competing for funds.
Reimbursements
The SRTS Program is not a grant program but a cost reimbursable program. Funding will take the form of monthly reimbursements of eligible expenditures. Applicants must, therefore, have funds available to pay project expenses prior to receiving their reimbursements.
Inappropriate Use of Funds
Funds will not be used for projects that do not specifically serve the stated purposes of the SRTS program nor should they be used for reoccurring costs except as specifically provided in the legislation. For example, in general, Program funds should not be used to pay crossing guard salaries, as these are reoccurring costs (although funds may be used for crossing guard training programs).
The use of Program funds for projects that reorganize pick-up and drop-off primarily for the convenience of drivers rather than to improve child safety and/or walking and bicycling access is not permitted, nor should Program funds be spent on education programs that are primarily focused on bus safety. Improvements to bus stops are not eligible for this funding.
Project Location
Infrastructure Project Location
Projects and activities in each category should directly support increased safety and convenience for elementary and middle school children in grades K-8 to bicycle and/or walk to school. Projects can involve local roads and/or state highways.
For infrastructure projects, public funds must be spent on projects within the public right of way. This may include projects on private land that have public access easements. Public property includes lands that are owned by a public entity, including those lands owned by public school districts. Construction and capital improvement projects also must be located within approximately two miles of a primary or middle school (grades K – 8).
For projects on private land, there must be a written legal easement or other written legally binding agreement that ensures public access to the project. There must be an easement filed of record, which specifies the minimum length of time for the agreement to maximize the public investment in the project. The project agreement should clearly state in writing:
· The purpose and need of the project.
· The minimum timeframe for the easement or lease.
· The duties and responsibilities of the parties involved.
· How the property will be used and maintained in the future.
The project must remain open for general public access for the use for which the funds were intended for the timeframe specified in the easement or lease. The public access should be comparable to the nature and magnitude of the investment of public funds.
Reversionary clauses may be appropriate in some instances. These clauses would assure that if the property is no longer needed for the purpose for which it was acquired, it would revert to the original owner.
For real property acquisition, all project sponsors must comply with the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970. Regulations implementing this Act are found in 49 CFR Part 24. These regulations will be applied to evaluating the acquisition of real property and any potential displacement activities. See http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/realestate/ua/index.htm.
Non-Infrastructure Activity Locations
Traffic education and enforcement activities for local projects must take place within approximately two miles of a primary or middle school (grades K – 8). Other eligible activities under the non infrastructure portion of the SRTS Program do not have a location restriction. Education and encouragement activities are allowed at private schools as long as other non infrastructure program criteria are fulfilled.
Projects of a regional or statewide nature are particularly encouraged and are eligible for increased funding.
Required Activities
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends that SRTS efforts incorporate – directly or indirectly – five components, often referred to as the “5 E’s”. They are:
1. Engineering – Creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding schools that reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, and establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways.
2. Education – Teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important lifelong bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver safety campaigns in the vicinity of schools.
3. Enforcement – Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are obeyed in the vicinity of schools (this includes enforcement of speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings, and proper walking and bicycling behaviors), and initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.
4. Encouragement – Using events and activities to promote safe walking and bicycling.
5. Evaluation – Monitoring and documenting outcomes and trends through the collection of data, including the collection of data before and after the intervention(s).
Each of the above activities must be addressed in the application or demonstrate how they are already being addressed in the school or within the school’s community.
Eligible Applicants/Contracting Entity
The applicant can generally be any organization such as a school, school board, PTO’s, etc. that has an interest in applying for the program and will do the necessary coordination to complete the application.
The Entity must be a public agency such as local public works, MPO’s, school boards, parish or state agencies that will be responsible for managing and maintaining the project. The Entity must have the manpower to manage the project and the financial resources to absorb the cost of the project until reimbursement.
Eligible Projects
The following are examples of infrastructure projects and/or non-infrastructure activities that may be eligible for funding under the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. The applicant’s proposal should indicate which category or categories the project is eligible under.
Infrastructure Projects
· Sidewalk improvements: new sidewalks, sidewalk widening, sidewalk gap closures, sidewalk repairs, curbs, gutters, and curb ramps.
· Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements: roundabouts, bulb-outs, speed humps, raised crossings, raised intersections, median refuges, narrowed traffic lanes, lane reductions, full- or half-street closures, automated speed enforcement, and variable speed limits.
· Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements: crossings, median refuges, raised crossings, raised intersections, traffic control devices (including new or upgraded traffic signals, pavement markings, traffic stripes, in-roadway crossing lights, flashing beacons, bicycle-sensitive signal actuation devices, pedestrian countdown signals, vehicle speed feedback signs, and pedestrian activated signal upgrades), and sight distance improvements.
· On-street bicycle facilities: new or upgraded bicycle lanes, widened outside lanes or roadway shoulders, geometric improvements, turning lanes, channelization and roadway realignment, traffic signs, and pavement markings.
· Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities: exclusive multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trails and pathways that are separated from a roadway.
· Secure bicycle parking facilities: bicycle parking racks, bicycle lockers, designated areas with safety lighting, and covered bicycle shelters.
· Traffic diversion improvements: separation of pedestrians and bicycles from vehicular traffic adjacent to school facilities, and traffic diversion away from school zones or designated routes to a school.
Non-Infrastructure Activities
· Creation and reproduction of promotional and educational materials.
· Bicycle and pedestrian safety curricula, materials and trainers.
· Training, including SRTS training workshops that target school- and community-level audiences.
· Modest incentives for SRTS contests and incentives that encourage more walking and bicycling over time.
· Safety and educational tokens that also advertise the program.
· Photocopying, duplicating, and printing costs, including CDs, DVDs, etc.
· Mailing costs.
· Costs for data gathering, analysis, and evaluation reporting at the local project level.
· Pay for substitute teacher if needed to cover for faculty attending SRTS functions during school hours.
· Costs for additional law enforcement or equipment needed for enforcement activities.
· Equipment and training needed for establishing crossing guard programs.
· Stipends for parent or staff coordinators. (The intent is to be able to reimburse volunteers for materials and expenses needed for coordination and efforts. The intent is not to pay volunteers for their time. In some cases, however, a State may permit paying a stipend to a “super volunteer” to coordinate its local program(s). This is an important possibility to keep open for low-income communities. It may be beneficial to set a limit on the maximum value of a stipend, such as $2000/school year.).
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
General
1. The 2015 application form must be used to submit your project. Applications should be complete and accurate. Remember that only completed applications will be scored. This form will be used to submit requests for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects and activities.
2. In preparing the documentation, remember that the applications will be copied and distributed to various people who require information for grading and/or selection of projects. With this in mind, here are some tips for preparing your application.
a. Provide enough detail in your project description that reviewers, graders and selectors can clearly understand your project.
b. If you attach information, provide it in a format that can be easily copied on 8 ½” x 11” papers. Also, if the application is to be bound, send applications either stapled or in a 3-ring binder or spiral binding type format. NO DUOTANG FOLDERS PLEASE.
c. Supplemental information that gives a clearer picture of the impact of the project may be included. However, please limit additional information to phases of the project that is relevant to the spending of the Safe Routes to School funds sought.
3. You should determine if you are in a Metropolitan Area (MPO) by contacting the nearest MPO office. (See included information) If you are in a Metropolitan Area, please contact your MPO representative.